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Trump’s choice between Greenland and Nato under scrutiny

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Published

2 mesi ago

12 Gennaio 2026

Bre-news

In an interview with the New York Times, the US President suggests he may have to prioritise national interests over the Atlantic Alliance, as diplomatic talks with Denmark intensify

Trump’s choice between Greenland and Nato has become a central issue in transatlantic relations after the US President suggested he may be forced to decide between securing the Arctic island and preserving the strength of the Atlantic Alliance. Speaking to the New York Times in a recent interview, published in full on the newspaper’s website, Donald Trump reiterated that Greenland represents a matter of national interest in the face of what he described as growing threats from Russia and China.

Asked directly whether he might have to make such a decision, Trump replied: “I would rather not say it, but I may have to make a choice. You have to understand: Russia is not at all worried about Nato without us. China is not at all worried about Nato without us.” He added that Europe is “becoming a very different place” and must adapt. Later, in a post on his Truth platform, Trump again addressed the Alliance, claiming: “I’m the one who saved Nato.”

The debate over Trump’s choice between Greenland and Nato has prompted reactions from Nato leadership. Speaking to journalists in Zagreb, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said the Alliance is actively working to strengthen security in the Arctic. “We are currently working on the next steps to ensure that we collectively protect what is at stake,” he said. Referring to Trump, Rutte added that the US President is encouraging allies to increase defence spending and match American levels of investment, stressing that this outcome would have been impossible without him. He also insisted there is “absolutely no” crisis within the Alliance.

Diplomatic contacts are also intensifying. According to CBS News, officials from the Trump administration are due to meet their Danish counterparts on Wednesday to discuss Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed that this week her Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Rubio told Congress last week that Trump remains interested in acquiring the Arctic island, which is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. He said several options are being assessed for the acquisition of Greenland, considered by the President to be essential for national security, including, he did not exclude, the possible use of military force.

“If we don’t take Greenland, Russia or China will, and we can’t allow that,” Trump said at the White House last week. “I would prefer to make a deal — it’s easier — but one way or another we will have Greenland. If we don’t do it nicely, we’ll do it the hard way.”

European leaders have firmly rejected this approach. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Greenland belongs to its people and that only Denmark and Greenland have the right to decide their future. “Nothing about them without them,” she said when speaking to a group of European media outlets. She underlined that Arctic security is of major importance for Europe and remains a key issue for Nato. The European Union, she added, has strengthened its partnership with Greenland and has doubled funding in its proposed 2028–2034 budget to around €530 million, highlighting its long-term commitment to the region.

Against this backdrop, Trump’s choice between Greenland and Nato is increasingly seen as a strategic crossroads that could redefine US relations with its allies, the balance of power in the Arctic, and the future cohesion of the Atlantic Alliance.

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